New Zealand Rugby League are kicking off 2018 with a new look junior development pathway. An innovative new Talent Development Programme (TDP) has been designed to better prepare players working towards a professional career, while keeping players closer to home and playing in local competitions longer.

In recent years the week long National Youth Tournament (inter-zone competition for 15s and 17s) has identified the best 80 players who progress to a four day High Performance Camp, with the best of that group selected for NZ 16s and NZ 18s teams to play against Australian or Pacifica sides of a similar age.

Player numbers will rise significantly, with 176 taking part in the talent development programme, covering on and off-field development areas.

David McMeeken, NZRL Talent Identification Manager says, “For the player’s long term career success, health and well-being, we know it is important for them to complete their education, training and study with family support. We want them to stay in NZ where they have that and we can better develop them for the challenges ahead.”

The TDP has five key goals:
1. Ensure that young NZ players are better prepared for the rigours of high performance environments such as the NRL.
2. Personal development including educational and career aspirations – making sure they have a Plan B.
3. Recruitment and retention of players at teenage level in grassroots rugby league in NZ.
4. Better development pathways for all staff including coaches, managers and strength and conditioning staff.
5. Strengthen the grassroots game through player retention and the up-skilling of staff

McMeeken adds, “NZRL has been in consultation with Auckland and Canterbury Rugby League, our Zone General Managers and NZ Warriors around this pathway and the alignment of a national calendar. This is critically important to managing player workloads and reduce injuries throughout the international and zone representative, club and school league year.

“New Zealand has a strong talent pool, with NRL clubs recruiting from across the country. The potential pathways for players from our New Zealand League community is huge and we intend to create more opportunities for our communities.”

CEO Alex Hayton says, “We are extremely grateful to the NRL for their support of this programme. We have been working collaboratively for some time around changes to the pathway competitions and the recruitment policy. They appreciate we are a nursery of talent that feeds their high-quality NRL competition.

“We are hopeful that once our talent development pathway competition is established, NZ companies will see the benefits and become involved.”

About the Talent Development programme:

Players will train together in hubs, with the programme running over ten (10) weeks instead of the previous four day camp.

More than 50 appointments will be made to cover staff positions along with seven selectors (one representing each of the Zones) and referees.

Due to the geographical spread of player talent there will be two Auckland hubs, plus one in Taupo and a fourth in Christchurch. In addition there will be as many as 13 satellites (localised training facilities).

Taupo and Christchurch will be used on a bi-weekly basis when their satellites meet.

The TDP is a sub-elite programme designed to enhance player’s skills, introduce strength & conditioning, and promote education and player welfare.

The TDP will encourage those who dream of playing in the NRL to stay in New Zealand until they are 18, allowing them an extra few years in familiar surroundings.

Where physical location allows they will train, attend the gym and workshops regularly during the week. Where they are spread, they will come together for weekend camps.

Timeline
• January – February 2018 Commencement of the training schedule for 176 players across four hubs
• March 2018 Round robin competition will be executed with final between the top two teams
All games will be played in Auckland, over the course of four (4) weeks.